UKPGA-2025-32 — Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025

preamble

Be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—

s. 1 — Livestock worrying: scope and consequences of offence

The Schedule contains amendments to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 that—

s. 1(a)

bring incidents on roads and paths within the scope of the offence in section 1 of that Act;

s. 1(b)

bring camelids within the definition of “livestock” that applies for the purposes of that offence;

s. 1(c)

exempt a dog owner from liability for that offence where the dog is in the charge of another person without the owner’s consent;

s. 1(d)

increase the penalty that may be imposed where a person is convicted of that offence;

s. 1(e)

allow for a court to order an offender to pay expenses associated with seizing and detaining a dog;

s. 1(f)

update the terminology used in that Act so that attacking livestock is dealt with separately from worrying livestock.

s. 2 — Seizure and detention of dogs

s. 2(1)

For section 2 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 substitute—

s. 2(2)

Section 3 of the Dogs Act 1906 (seizure of stray dogs), so far as still in force by virtue of section 68(2) of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005, is repealed.

s. 3 — Collection of samples and impressions

After section 2 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 insert—

s. 4 — Powers of entry

For section 2A of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 substitute—

s. 5 — Extent, commencement, transitional provision and short title

s. 5(1)

This Act extends to England and Wales only.

s. 5(2)

This Act comes into force at the end of the period of three months beginning with the day on which this Act is passed.

s. 5(3)

The fact that any worrying or attacking of livestock took place (or is alleged to have taken place) before this Act comes into force does not in itself affect the availability, in connection with that worrying or attacking, of the powers conferred by virtue of sections 2, 3 and 4.

s. 5(4)

This Act may be cited as the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025.

Sch 1

Amendments to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

Sch 1 para 1

Sch 1 para 1(1)

Section 1 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 (offence) is amended as follows.

Sch 1 para 1(2)

In subsection (1) (creation of offence)—

Sch 1 para 1(2)(a)

before “worries” insert “attacks or”;

Sch 1 para 1(2)(b)

after “land” insert “or on a road or path”.

Sch 1 para 1(3)

In subsection (2) (meaning of “worrying livestock”), omit paragraph (a).

Sch 1 para 1(4)

In subsection (3) (livestock trespassing), after “a dog” insert “on any agricultural land”.

Sch 1 para 1(5)

After subsection (3) insert—

Sch 1 para 1(6)

In subsection (4) (dog in charge of someone other than owner)—

Sch 1 para 1(6)(a)

before “worrying” insert “attacking or”;

Sch 1 para 1(6)(b)

for “he proves” substitute “the owner proves”;

Sch 1 para 1(6)(c)

before “worried” insert “attacked or”;

Sch 1 para 1(6)(d)

for the words from “, whom” to the end substitute

Sch 1 para 1(7)

For subsection (6) substitute—

Sch 1 para 1(8)

For the heading substitute “Offence where dog attacks or worries livestock”.

Sch 1 para 2

In section 3 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 (interpretation), in subsection (1), in the definition of “livestock”, after “horses,” insert “camelids”.